title: Spread of West Nile virus in Iran: a cross-sectional serosurvey in equines, 2008-2009.
abstract: We report the first large-scale serosurvey for West Nile virus (WNV) conducted in the equine population in Iran. Blood samples were obtained in 2008-2009 from 1054 equines collected from 260 districts located in 27 provinces. The overall seroprevalence rate for WNV neutralizing antibodies was 23·7%. Marked geographical variations were observed as province-specific seroprevalence rates ranged from 1% to 88%, the highest values being observed in the southern and western parts of the country. The presence of IgM-positive animals (n=9) indicated a recent circulation of WNV in several provinces. Logistic modelling confirmed this result with a significant effect of age on seropositivity. This study revealed extensive circulation of WNV in Iran particularly in southwestern provinces where the virus probably circulates every year.
authors.affiliation: Viral Vaccines Production Department, Pasteur Institute, Tehran, Iran. f_ahmadnejad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmadnejad
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Otarod
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fallah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lowenski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sedighi-Moghaddam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zavareh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lecollinet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sabatier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018397:Equidae / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M